SETTLEMENT SOUGHT

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVIII, Issue 21839, 17 December 1940, Page 5

SETTLEMENT SOUGHT

Thai Invites French Commission By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received December 16, 6.30 p.m.) BANGKOK, December 15. The Thai Government has announced its willingness to negotiate a settlement “by peaceful means” of the question of the Indo-China territories which Thailand demanded. The Thai Government has requested Indo-China to send a French commission to Bangkok. A Thai communique states: “French aeroplanes dropped incendiary bombs on Skolnakorn and Mukdahom.” "Diplomatic Channels Cut” According to a later message, in eight raids at the week-end 100 bombs were dropped on four Indo-China cities, in which there were three French casualties. Many houses were destroyed. A French official said: “Heavy reprisals are likely. Bombs are the only means of making representations because diplomatic channels are cut.” The French warning to Siam against further air raids on Indo-China as a result of drastic French retaliation, including the bombing of Bangkok, is believed to have been responsible for the temporary cessation of aerial warfare. A Saigon message states that the French authorities claim to have smashed the native Communist revolt and broken up a plan to seize French arms and munitions for a march on Saigon. It is reported from Hanoi that French raided Oubon, the terminus of the railroad from Bangkok. French officials said that Thailand and Indo-China relations temporarily would not become worse because the Thai Government asked for calmness by the people on account of desiring a successful Bangkok Fair, which opened on December 8.